Toddler Who Went Missing In 2011 Declared Dead

A Portland, Maine girl who has been missing for over five years has been declared dead by a judge.

A Cumberland County probate judge declared Ayla Reynolds dead on May 17 and appointed her mother, Portland resident Trista Reynolds, as the representative of her estate.

Ayla was just 20 months old when she was reported missing in December 2011. The toddler was staying with her father, Justin DiPietro, in Waterville at the time. DiPietro told authorities that he tucked Ayla in bed the night before and the next morning she was gone.

DiPietro said that he believes she was abducted. Court documents say that he now lives in California.

No charges were ever filed in the disappearance.

Police launched a search for Ayla, but later said they believed she was dead.